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5g nr carrier bandwidth

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The 5G New Radio (NR) standard defines various parameters related to the carrier bandwidth, which plays a crucial role in determining the overall data rate and performance of a 5G network. Here's a technical explanation of 5G NR carrier bandwidth:

  1. Frequency Range: 5G NR operates in a wide range of frequency bands, including sub-1 GHz (low band), 1-6 GHz (mid-band), and above 24 GHz (high band or millimeter-wave). The carrier bandwidth is directly associated with the frequency range in use.
  2. Carrier Spacing: The carrier bandwidth in 5G NR is divided into individual carriers, and the spacing between these carriers is an important parameter. In 5G NR, two main carrier spacing options are defined:
    • Standard Carrier Spacing: It is typically used in the frequency range below 6 GHz and has a fixed spacing of 15 kHz.
    • Enhanced Carrier Spacing: This is used in the frequency range above 6 GHz and provides more flexibility in terms of carrier spacing options. It can be 30 kHz, 60 kHz, 120 kHz, 240 kHz, or 480 kHz.
  3. Numerology: 5G NR uses a concept called numerology to define the relationship between time and frequency resources. It involves parameters like subcarrier spacing, slot duration, and frame structure. Different numerologies are defined to cater to various use cases, such as enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable low latency communication (URLLC), and massive machine type communication (mMTC).
  4. Subcarrier Spacing: Subcarriers are the basic frequency building blocks within a carrier. The subcarrier spacing is the frequency difference between adjacent subcarriers. The choice of subcarrier spacing is determined by the numerology chosen for a particular deployment scenario. Common subcarrier spacings include 15 kHz, 30 kHz, and 60 kHz.
  5. Channel Bandwidth: The overall channel bandwidth is the total bandwidth occupied by a 5G NR carrier. It is determined by the product of the number of resource blocks and the subcarrier spacing. Common channel bandwidths include 5 MHz, 10 MHz, 20 MHz, 50 MHz, 100 MHz, and more.
  6. Resource Blocks: The channel bandwidth is further divided into smaller units called resource blocks (RBs). Each resource block consists of a certain number of subcarriers and time slots. The number of subcarriers and time slots in a resource block depends on the chosen numerology.

5G NR carrier bandwidth is a comprehensive concept that encompasses the frequency range, carrier spacing, numerology, subcarrier spacing, channel bandwidth, and resource blocks. The flexibility provided by these parameters allows 5G NR to adapt to various deployment scenarios, making it suitable for a wide range of applications and use cases.